You've lost a life long customer...

Did you keep the receipt from Kolh's?
Why would you be "campaigning" for people to stop shopping at Walmart
for years?

Reading all these Target letters where people want them to ignore the
policy for them makes me even more loyal to Target....their strict
policy is in place for a reason and helps to keep prices down.

Hi Becky,
I really feel for you.
I would do what the one person suggested and buy
another coat, etc. and take back the faulty one.

Do you have a Costco near you?
They are really wonderful at
customer service and they have great return policies,
no questions ask and you don't need to show a receipt.
It makes buying the membership
worth it.

I'm not going to shop at Target anymore.
There are a lot of people on here who's comments
seem to reflect that they are perfect because
they NEVER loose receipts, they ALWAYS pay with
a credit card, etc. I guess they are very smart
and happy.

I assume they are very loyal to Target...
same as I am with Costco and Toyota.
They probably think that corporation is looking
out for them. They might think that people
are basically bad and they do bad things
(like loosing receipts and paying cash) that
corporations should monitor and that
the best corporate line is "never give an inch."

I happen to believe in the idea that the best
customer, and the least expensive customer to
pursue, is the customer you already have.
That is all about brand loyalty. Brand loyalty
and customer service work hand in hand.
And word of mouth is just as important.
It a business's best friend. Or worst enemy.
Much worse than that small margin of
dishonest, scamming folks out there who
the policies are "supposed to be" meant to
be enacted for.

I have brand loyalty to Toyota (and not the
awful American companies who worked with the
government and big oil to keep MPG standards low and now
want the government to rescue them) because
they create a useful, practical product that
doesn't fall apart after a few years.

I have loyalty to Costco because they treat
me with respect and they are constantly seeking
new and creative ways to interact and provide
for customer satisfaction.

Best wishes.
JD

Since you have a piece of crap coat. Why not just buy another one and
take the first coat back. You will then have proof of your purchase
and when it comes time for the return or exchange part you simply ask
for a return. Problem solved.

As a shopper I never go in anticipating I will be purchasing
merchandise that will break, fail or fall apart, no one does. But it
happens every day.
So some people have learned to keep receipts until these are no longer
needed. I happen to keep mine in a drawer in my desk. I go through
these every couple of months and toss the ones that the return date
has passed.

Each store has its own policy, most times listed right on the back of
the receipt. And not meaning to be sarcastic, there are signs posted
that all customers probably are reading while standing in line that
read the return/echange policy. But we never think it pertains to us
and we go up and want our merchandise exchanged.

I agree that the exchange could have taken place...but then Target has
one of the more restrictive policies out there.
And while the coat you bought at Kohl's may last a bit longer before
she outgrows it they still request a receipt to return or exchange.

...here Target is appearing again on this list.

That's it, I'm selling my $150,000 in stock and buying stock in Wal
Mart.

*whatever*

I have learned to always keep receipts (even paying in cash). I
started Christmas shopping in Sept. and retain all receipts; esp. gift
cards that I purchased. I will purge the 2005 xmas receipts this year
to make room for 2008. But I'm all about organization, and keep all
receipts (groceries, clothing )for at least 30 days.

"
I have been campaigning for people to leave shopping at walmart for
years -"

I am so glad I've never had a friend who "campaigned" for me to stop
shopping at a certain store. I can only imagine how much fun that
would be.

I'm not sure if Target has this but if you remember the time and date
that you purchased an item at Walmart, they can look up your receipt
and process the return. A couple of months ago, I bought a defective
game and tried to return it a few days later (who knows what happened
to that receipt..). They said they couldn't return it without the
receipt but then the cashier asked if I remembered what time I had
purchased it. I told her the time and she looked it up on the computer
and then processed my return. Like I said, I'm not sure if Target has
this system or not but it's really helpful for customers who are as
forgetful as I am.

"WHY would I have kept the receipt?!?!"

So you can return it in case of a defect. I think your letter answers
this question.

Target is very firm on their return policy, I keep every receipt from
them for the full 90 days (very generous) that they give me to make a
return for whatever reason may pop up.

And this is exactly why you should have kept the receipt...it was only
5 days later...no excuse.

I wonder how many more of these types of letters we'll see after the
holidays...this Thanksgiving, I'm giving thanks that I no longer work
in retail full time!

I worked in loss prevention for a short while about 9 years ago. It
was mostly just a learning experience for me on how people go about
stealing from stores.

You would not believe the people who go in, steal an item..and then:

1. Try to return it w/o receipt at same store
2. Go to different store and try to return it
3. Exchange item for a more expensive one and pay difference etc.

As other people have said, Target is only trying to cover their butts
and have to follow this no/receipt no/return policy. Walmart used to
have a 3 return w/o receipt policy with driver license but I'm not
sure if they still do that.

Target has no way of knowing you bought the coat five days ago. For
all they know, your daughter could have been wearing it all autumn and
wore the zipper out. I do believe it happened exactly as you said
though. But *that* is why you keep the receipt - because things do go
wrong. I feel for you, but they make their return exchange policy very
clear.

"WHY would I have kept the receipt?!?!"

It's exactly your situation that proves why you should keep the
receipt.

Your situation is unfortunate, and I think it's too bad that Target
won't revise this policy for even exchanges; however, it's also
clearly posted and has been for some time. And while this may be "the
most asinine policy" you ever heard, I think you're going to see more
stores adopting it.

that it's unfortunate that you had to go through this and in a perfect
world they should have at least exchanged it, but I have to agree with
the others that you 1) paid cash and 2) threw away the receipt.

I have 2 boys and I wouldn't DREAM of throwing away the receipt until
they've worn something at least 2 or 3 times. They grow like weeds
and if they don't outgrow it, they will surely test the piece of
clothing's endurance. That you had no proof that you purchased the
coat is not Target's fault.

But again, as I have said about a million times, I find it interesting
that so-called "loyal" and "life long" customers will completely write
a store off after one incident where things don't go their way.

I'm with you on this one. You didn't want your money back, and you
had the defective merchandise with you. They should be able to
compare it to the new coat to see that it was the same, and have
exchanged it for you.

For just this reason. I tuck all my receipts in a pocket in my purse
then if there is a problem with something down the road, it's there.
I even got my husband into the habit of handing me his receipt when he
buys something when I'm not there. This method has bailed us out a
couple of times.

Obviously there was a reason to keep the receipt; in case it broke.

Target gets bashed for its restrictive return policy, and Petsmart
gets bashed for its loose return policy. Just proves you cant please
everyone, someone will be there to pick you apart.


Good Day

and you don't know the return policy? Hmm. I've been in Target like
8 times, and I do.

You answered your own question.

They would be very happy to give you an even exchange with a receipt.

You called the Target policy "asinine", but have you stopped to think
about why they have the policy? It isn't designed to make the
customers miserable, I assure you. I value their policy, and the
reason is it helps keep costs down by reducing fraudulent returns. I
am not pleased that some customers, such as yourself, get caught
unawares and are unable to return an item. However, the policy is
widely advertised, and if you use a credit card or debit card they
will often be able to locate the transaction.

You call it a fiasco, but the fiasco was caused by you not keeping
your receipt. Let this be a learning lesson - most retailers require
receipts. I keep a pile on a plate, and go through them every few
months to weed out the ones I no longer need. You never know when you
will end up with "a poorly made piece of crap." It can happen at many
retailers, and it is best to be prepared when it does.

Finally, if you want to take your business to a retailer with lower
quality merchandise, fine. Just be sure to keep your receipts from now
on.

With a number of items of clothing - I've had expensive jeans repaired
(both holes / tears, and zipper malfunctions) as well as coats and
such. Much cheaper, easier, and much less hassle. :)

NEVER say NEVER.